LONDON — European stocks are expected to open higher on Thursday as investors continue to monitor the Covid crisis in the region and political developments in Germany.

The U.K. FTSEindex opens at 7.303, Germany’s highest point. Index is 18 points higher. DAX 59 points higher at 15,955, France’s CAC 40 up 30 points at 7,078 and Italy’s FTSE MIBData from IG shows that 27,233 was 154 points more.

The latest German news will soon be available to investors. On Wednesday, a new deal was made between the Social Democrats and the Greens.

This agreement will be effective. Olaf Scholz, Germany’s former finance minister, become Germany’s new chancellorWhen Angela Merkel will be leaving the job in December.

European investors are continuing to watch the acute Covid crisis in the region this week amid rising infections that have prompted a handful of countries to introduce new Covid restrictions.

Italy said Wednesday night that it would tighten Covid regulations. Germany narrowly avoided another lockdown, with the incoming coalition wanting to see if tighter Covid passport laws help alleviate increasing cases. However, Olaf Scholz, the new German leader said Wednesday that vaccines will be compulsory for certain groups.

Stay over night Asia-Pacific marketsAs investors responded to the Bank of Korea raising its policy rate by 1%, shares rose and fell. This was the South Korean central banks response to a similar move by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand on Wednesday.

U.S. Markets will close Thursday in celebration of Thanksgiving, and then will reopen Friday morning with a shorter session.

Data-wise, the third quarter gross domestic product (GDP), Germany, will be shown in detail. The December reading for the GfK consumer sentiment indicator is also due.